Ageing behaviour of the insulation system used in rotating machines

The integration of decentralized renewable energy sources leads to a changed load profile of electrical power engineering utilities such as generators, transformers etc. A decreased application of thermal power plants as primary supply of electrical energy results in progressive energy transition and rising load dynamics. Frequent start-up processes etc. lead to rapid changes in the operation conditions of large turbine generators and increasing thermo-mechanical and mechanical stress of the involved devices. The electrical insulation system of high-voltage engineering components is a common reason for destructive failure. To improve the reliability of electrical energy supply and to estimate the expected lifetime of power engineering devices, especially in consideration of increasing stress the complex nature of multi-stress insulation ageing has to be investigated. [1]